Part 4/8:
Putin anticipated a swift victory and a short-lived period of sanctions, underestimating both the resilience of Western nations and the duration of the conflict in Ukraine. His strategy hinged on the assumption that Russia could fund its "victory" while creating an illusion of prosperity for its citizens, ultimately garnering support for further military actions.
Unfortunately for the Kremlin, this approach has proven dangerously flawed. The war, now dragging into its third year, has strained the economy beyond initial projections. Additionally, approximately half of the war chest ended up frozen in overseas accounts, binding critical resources that cannot be accessed.